4/11/24 (Day 1)
1 gallon recipe
2.11 lbs honey.  I used several “leftover” honeys for this.
2 oz ginger.  cut into slices
2 cinnamon sticks
1 Black Tea teabag
1/2 tsp clove
Lalvin QA23 yeast
1 Gallon bottled water

I started by boiling the ginger, cinnamon and tea bag for 10 minutes in 1/2 of the water.  At the 10 minute mark I added the 1/2 tsp clove (ground) and boiled for 5 more minutes. While that was boiling I re-hydrated the yeast with some warm honey water that was 92 degrees.  Mixed all the honey and rest of cold water in the carboy and stirred vigorously.  I added the warm tea mixture to include the ginger and cinnamon sticks.  I pitched the yeast at 98 degrees.  Topped it with an airlock and now we let that ferment.

Starting gravity = 1.076 or about 10% ABV if it goes dry.

4/12/24 (Day 2)
1 tsp Fermaid-O for nutrient

4/14/24 (Day 4)
I had to remove the ginger.  It was to overpowering.  I can always add more in secondary.
1 tsp Fermaid-O
S.G. = 1.042

5/1/24 (Day 21)
I racked into clean carboy.  S.G. = 1.000.  I stabilized with Sorbate/Metabisulfite.  I added 1/4 tsp tannin.
It’s very gingery.  Not sure I’ll do much more to this than back sweeten.  ABV = 10%

5/14/24 (Day 34)
Bottled this beast today.  It’s nice.

Oh, Lucas…You old friend.  I started this book on 5/1/24.  Finished on 5/16/24.  15 days.  Not to shabby.
Great book.  Good story.  Characters really well written.  I could picture them ALL.
Carmel Sloan, a predominate lawyer ordered a hit on Allen Hale’s wife.  The hit man was a woman, Drinker.  They became friends and had to take out several more people to “cover their tracks”.  Lucas had all the evidence he needed against Carmel.  She cracked and committed suicide.  Drinker get away???  Read the book to find out.

9/10 and 15 days.

4/14/24 (Day 1)
1 Gallon recipe
2 1/2 2 liters of Dr. Pepper (Just filled to the gallon mark)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 packet Lalvin 71B yeast
S.G. = 1.042

Mixed all ingredients and let degas.  Pitched yeast dry.

4/15/24 (Day 2)
1 tsp Fermaid-O

5/1/24 (Day 18)
Racked into clean vessel.  S.G. =.996 so it’s done.  Stabilized with Sorbate / Metabisulphite.  1/4 tsp tannin.  Will need some back sweetening before bottling.  It’s thin but does taste like D.P.  6% ABV so not to bad.

5/14/24 (Day 30)
Bottling day!!!  Labels created and printed.  Back sweetened to 1.020 and bottled.
It’s thin and not very flavorful.  I almost dumped it but Kendra said no.  She’d drink it.

Started this book on 4/17/24.  Not sure if I’ve read anything by her yet.  Looks interesting.
So I finished this book today. 5/1/24.  15 Days.  I really enjoyed it.

Rosemary is a down and out on her luck woman.  She’s got a menial job.  Her sister Wendy is living with grandma.  Parents died.  Rosemary tries being a prostitute.  It didn’t work for her.  Then Leo Glass, the billionaire, makes her an offer she can’t refuse.  Be his girlfriend for 6,000 a month plus an apartment.  She brings Wendy to live with her and meets Sam, the next door neighbor.  She falls for Sam but is under contract with Leo.

Leo turns weird.  Rosemary kills Leo.  Trial.  Then what happens???  Read the book.

I give this book an 8/10.  I enjoyed the writing style.  Some chapters were really long.

2/2/24 (Day 1)

1 Gallon Batch
2.8 lbs Kroger Clover honey
25 oz Torani Classic Caramel Syrup
1 tsp Fermaid-O
1/4 tsp wine tannin
Lalvin QA23 yeast
1 gallon spring water from dollar tree
Mixed all ingredients together and pitched dry yeast.
S.G. = 1.110 or about 12% ABV if it goes dry

2/3/24 (Day 2)
1/2 tsp DAP

2/4/24 (Day 3)
1/2 tsp DAP

2/5/24 (Day 4)
1/2 tsp DAP

2/12/24 (Day 10)
S.G. = 1.024
Actually a nice flavor

2/23/24 (Day 22)
S.G. = .998 it’s done.  It’s hot and needs lots of time.

3/2/24 (Day 30) Stabilized
1/4 tsp Metabisulphite
1/2 tsp Potassium Sorbate
Racked into clean carboy to clear.  No tasting.
14.9% ABV

5/1/24 (Day 90)
Bottled and labeled today.  No additions.  It’s got an almost artificial flavor.  It’s still a little hot on the alcohol side.  Needs time.  It’s very clear.

2 Gallon Recipe
2/2/24 (Day 1)

2.26 oz Great Value 100% pure pumpkin
64 oz Tazo Pumpkin Spice Latte tea mix
2 lbs Great Lakes Golden Clover Honey (I think it’s from Kroger)
1 lbs Honey (other honey from Missy I think)
Lalvin D47 yeast
Mixed all ingredients together and pitched yeast.  Using the new 2 gallon glass carboy that I bought from Amazon.
S.G. = 1.082 about 10% ABV if it goes dry

2/3/24 (Day 2)
1 tsp DAP
2/4/24 (Day 3)
1 tsp DAP
2/5/24 (Day 4)
1 tsp DAP
2/12/24 (Day 10)
S.G. = .998
Bentonite according to package instructions

2/25/24 (Day 24)
Racked off Pumpkin
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 tsp Tannin
1/2 tsp Sorbate
1/2 Tsp Metabisulphite
It’s cloudy and gross looking.  It doesn’t taste like pumpkin.  It’s spicy.  Needs time to mellow.

4/11/24 (Day 70)
It’s still not clearing at all.  It looks like watery mud.  I may bottle it gross looking and see what it does in the bottle.

4/25/24
I racked into clean glass carboy.  1/2 cup water/bentonite added (per spec).  It’s not clearing at all.  I’m gonna give it another week, then bottle.

5/1/24 (Day 90)
It was NOT CLEAR at all!  I back sweetened with honey and bottled.  It tastes good, it’s just an ugly beast!
Labels printed and applied.
F.G. = 1.020 after back sweetening and that’s what it is in the bottle.